US4534388A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Dispersion system and method
Assignee: Pall Corp
•
Filing: 1983-06-07
•
Granted: 1985-08-13
•
Expires: 2003-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A self-cleaning system and method for dispersing aggregates in a fluid medium is provided. The system is comprised of first and second members operatively associated to form an internal chamber and having an inlet to the chamber for admitting the fluid to be treated. At least one of the members is biased toward the other whereby the introduction of a fluid medium to be treated into the chamber under an operating pressure in the range of from about 50 to about 1,000 psid (3.5 to 70.3 kg/cm 2 ) provides an elongated orifice between the first and second members having a transverse dimension or width of from about 1 to about 1,500 micrometers for egress of the fluid medium. As the fluid passes through the elongated orifice, aggregates contained therein are dispersed. The system is self-cleaning by virtue of the biased nature of at least one of the members toward the other, thereby providing longer onstream operation and requiring less servicing. The system can be used for treating aggregate-containing fluids such as oil well completion fluids, dispersions used in the manufacture of magnetic tape, and dispersion of particulates such as carbon black and other pigments.
Inventors
- 👤 David B. Pall
- 👤 Peter J. Degen
- 👤 John Mischenko, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:57
CPC Classifications
C; C21; C21B; C21B7/00; C21B7/08; B; B01; B01F; B01F25/00; B01F25/40; B01F25/44; B01F25/442; B01F25/4422; B01F25/441; B01F25/4412; B01F25/44121; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7879
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A self-cleaning system for dispersing aggregrates in a fluid medium comprising first and second members operatively associated to form an internal chamber and having an inlet to said chamber for admitting said fluid, and with at least one of said members resiliently biased toward the other, whereby the introduction of said fluid medium into said chamber under a pressure in the range of from about 50 to about 1,000 psid deforms said at least one of said members to provide an elongated orifice between said first and second members for egress of said fluid medium, said elongated orifice under said pressure having a minimum length of about 3 inches, a transverse dimension or width in the range of from about 1 to about 1,500 micrometers and a ratio of its length to its transverse dimension or width of about 100:1 or greater.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A self-cleaning system for dispersing aggregrates in a fluid medium comprising first and second members operatively associated to form an internal chamber and having an inlet to said chamber for admitting said fluid, and with at least one of said members resiliently biased toward the other, whereby the introduction of said fluid medium into said chamber under a pressure in the range of from about 50 to about 1,000 psid deforms said at least one of said members to provide an elongated orifice between said first and second members for egress of said fluid medium, said elongated orifice under said pressure having a minimum length of about 3 inches, a transverse dimension or width in the range of from about 1 to about 1,500 micrometers and a ratio of its length to its transverse dimension or width of about 100:1 or greater.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said elongated orifice is continuous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said continuous, elongated orifice is annular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said second member comprises a Belleville washer, said first member comprises a Belleville washer seat, and said Belleville washer is resiliently biased toward said first member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said ratio is in the range of from about 200 to about 20,000 and said transverse dimension is in the range of from about 10 to about 1,250 micrometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said Belleville washer and said Belleville washer seat are comprised of stainless steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a housing for said first and second members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said second member is biased toward said first member by a pneumatically-actuated or hydraulic piston.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising at least a second pair of first and second members in stacked, repeating relationship to the first pair of said first and second members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said elongated orifice is continuous and annular, said first member of each of said pairs comprises a Belleville washer seat and said second member of each of said pairs comprises a Belleville washer resiliently biased toward its respective Belleville washer seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 10 further comprising a housing for said pairs of first and second members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said system further comprises a third, fourth and fifth pair of said first and second members in stacked, repeating relationship to each other and to said first pair and said second pair of said first and second members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said ratio of each of the elongated orifices formed between each pair of said first and second members at said pressure is in the range of from about 200 to 20,000 and the transverse dimensions or widths of said elongated orifices are in the range of from about 10 to about 1,250 micrometers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said Belleville washers are comprised of stainless steel and have a nominal, uncompressed, outside diameter of about 2.5 inches.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for dispersing aggregates in an aggregate-containing fluid medium employing a self-cleaning system for dispersing aggregrates ina fluid medium which system includes first and second members operatively associated to form an internal chamber and having an inlet to said chamber for admitting said fluid, and with at least one of said members resiliently biased toward the other, said method comprising the steps: (a) introducing said fluid medium into said chamber through said inlet under a pressure in the range of from about 50 to about 1,000 psid, the pressurized fluid deforming said at least one of said members to provide an elongated orifice between said first and second members for egress of fluid medium from said system, said elongated orifice under said pressure haivng a minimum length of about 3 inches, a transverse dimension or width in the range of from about 1 to about 1,500 micrometers and a ratio of its length to its transverse dimension or width of about 100:1 or greater and (b) passing said fluid medium through said elongated orifice, thereby dispersing said aggregate in said fluid medium.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
183 words
A method for dispersing aggregates in an aggregate-containing fluid medium employing a self-cleaning system for dispersing aggregrates ina fluid medium which system includes first and second members operatively associated to form an internal chamber and having an inlet to said chamber for admitting said fluid, and with at least one of said members resiliently biased toward the other, said method comprising the steps: (a) introducing said fluid medium into said chamber through said inlet under a pressure in the range of from about 50 to about 1,000 psid, the pressurized fluid deforming said at least one of said members to provide an elongated orifice between said first and second members for egress of fluid medium from said system, said elongated orifice under said pressure haivng a minimum length of about 3 inches, a transverse dimension or width in the range of from about 1 to about 1,500 micrometers and a ratio of its length to its transverse dimension or width of about 100:1 or greater and (b) passing said fluid medium through said elongated orifice, thereby dispersing said aggregate in said fluid medium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said pressure is in the range of from about 100 to about 800 psid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises a viscosified well completion fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises hydroxyethyl-cellulose at a concentration of from about 0.25 to about 1 percent by weight in an aqueous based fluid medium and normalized viscosity of the fluid medium after passage through said system is at least about 90 percent of the normalized viscosity of the untreated fluid medium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said fluid medium is a well completion fluid and said fluid medium containing dispersed aggregate after passage through said elongated orifice is diluted and filtered and the resulting effluent is injected into a well formation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises metallic oxide particles and a resin system and said pressure is in the range of from about 300 to 800 psid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises a pigment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises carbon black.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said self-cleaning system further includes at least a second pair of first and second members in stacked, reapeating relationship to the first pair of said first and second members.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method claim 23 wherein said pressure is in the range of from about 100 to about 800 psid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 23 wherein siad aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises hydroxyethyl-cellulose at a concentration of from about 0.25 to about 1 percent by weight in an aqueous based fluid medium and the normalized viscosity of the fluid medium containing dispersed aggregate after passage through said elongated orifice is at least about 90 percent of the normalized viscosity of the untreated fluid medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said fluid medium is a well completion fluid and said fluid after passage through said elongated oriifice is diluted and filtered and the resulting effluent is injected into a well formation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises metallic oxide particles and a resin system and said pressure is in the range of from about 300 to 800 psid.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises a pigment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said aggregate-containing fluid medium comprises carbon black.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for dispersing aggregates in an aggregate-containing fluid medium comprising passing said medium at a pressure in the range of from about 50 to about 1,000 psid through an elongated, self-cleaning orifice, said orifice having a length of at least about 3 inches and a length to width or transverse dimension ratio of 100:1 or greater and wherein the structure defining said elongated orifice comprises first and second members with at least one of said members resiliently biased toward the other to provide self-cleaning.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for dispersing aggregates in an aggregate-containing fluid medium comprising passing said medium at a pressure in the range of from about 50 to about 1,000 psid through an elongated, self-cleaning orifice, said orifice having a length of at least about 3 inches and a length to width or transverse dimension ratio of 100:1 or greater and wherein the structure defining said elongated orifice comprises first and second members with at least one of said members resiliently biased toward the other to provide self-cleaning.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said second member comprises a Belleville washer, said first member comprises a Belleville washer seat, and said Belleville washer is resiliently biased toward said first member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said ratio is in the range of from about 200 to about 20,000 and said transverse dimension is in the range of from about 10 to about 1,250 micrometers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said elongated orifice is continuous and annular, said first member of each of said pairs comprises a Belleville washer seat, said second member of each of said pairs comprises a Belleville washer resiliently biased toward its respective Belleville washer seat and a housing is provided for said pairs of first and second members.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said system further comprises a third, fourth and fifth pair of said first and second members in stacked, repeating relationship to each other and to said first pair and said second pair of said first and second members.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said ratio of each of the elongated orifices formed between each pair of said first and second members at said pressure is in the range of from about 200 to 20,000 and the transverse dimensions or widths of said elongated orifices are in the range of from about 10 to about 1,250 micrometers.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 33 wherein said Belleville washers are comprised of stainless steel and have a nominal, uncompressed, outside diameter of about 2.5 inches.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-12 | 1989-02-11 | 1989-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-12 | 1993-02-11 | 1993-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-12 | 1997-02-11 | 1997-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |